The student's excellent performance merited a special reward.
recognition
Frequency:
70
%
Her dedication to the project merited recognition from the team.
praise
Frequency:
65
%
The chef's culinary skills merited high praise from the food critics.
approval
Frequency:
60
%
His actions merited the approval of his superiors.
Idiomatic Expressions for merited
Phrase: comeuppance
Meaning: deserved punishment or fate; a penalty or retribution that one has brought upon oneself
Usage: The corrupt politician finally got his comeuppance when he was arrested for embezzlement.